By Linwood Outlaw III -- Daily Staff Writer

WINCHESTER — Helping relatives and friends who have a mental illness cope with their disability has its share of hardship, something Connie Nutter knows all too well.

When Nutter was in the third grade, her mother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her brother also has been diagnosed with the same illness. While helping them cope with their illnesses, Nutter eventually learned about the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation's largest grass-roots mental health organization dedicated to helping those with mental illnesses and their families.

"I was actually introduced to NAMI by a lady who called me from Kansas. ... I started getting involved from then," said Nutter, who serves as vice president of NAMI's Winchester affiliate and has been a member of the group for about two years.

Many members of NAMI have family or friends living with mental illnesses, and the Winchester affiliate is sponsoring a support group for the first time this year geared toward helping others in the same situation.

NAMI Winchester is offering two support group meetings a month at the old hospital located at 333 W. Cork St., one on the second Sunday of each month at 2:30 p.m. and another on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. The first support group gathering was held in January.

The support groups, which are free, are designed to help those struggling with the challenges of caring for a mentally ill loved one. Those diagnosed with mental illnesses also are welcome to participate in the groups.

"I think one of the most important things we go over is the principles of support. That's really important. Basically, the purpose is to provide a place that offers respect, understanding and encouragement, and hope. That's a big factor" Nutter said. "So many times, people who deal with mental illness, they feel like there is no hope."

The support groups meet for about 90 minutes and serve between 10 to 14 people per session. All groups are confidential, and participants are allowed to share as much — or as little — personal information as they choose. The support group, however, does not endorse any medications or other therapies.

Eventually, Nutter said, NAMI Winchester wants to expand the support group to be offered in Frederick, Warren, Clarke, Shenandoah and Page counties.

"Really, our first focus has been on family members. You have to understand that a large enemy for people who suffer from and are affected by mental illness is stigma. That's one of our main focuses, to try to bust the stigma," Nutter said.

An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from some form of a mental disorder in a given year, which translates to about 57.7 million people affected by such illnesses when applied to 2004 U.S. Census data, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health.

Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for people between the ages of 15 and 44. Serious types of mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Still, experts suggest that treatments for mental illnesses are highly effective. Between 70 percent and 90 percent of individuals with mental illnesses have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments and support, according to NAMI's Web site.

The key, however, is to remain informed on the various illnesses, NAMI Winchester member Bob Stevenson said.

"The main thing is information. Most people are simply uninformed about the nature of mental illness. And it is biological. It's not mystical," Stevenson said.

NAMI Winchester also will offer more programs for coping with mental illnesses in the coming months. The group is organizing a 12-week, 21/2-hour Family-to-Family education course designed to help families gain more insight into the various mental illnesses and medications, along with practical communication and coping skills. The course is expected to begin March 25.

The group is also planning to offer a nine-week, Peer-to-Peer education course sometime this year. The course will be offered to people who have been diagnosed with mental disorders and wish to maintain wellness.

Established in 1979, NAMI has more than 1,100 affiliates throughout the country. Winchester's local NAMI chapter has been around since the 1980s, group president Brooke Taylor said.

For more information about the Winchester chapter of NAMI and its support group, call 533-1832 or send an e-mail to namiwinchester@live.com. You can also visit www.nami.org.

* Contact Linwood Outlaw III at loutlaw@nvdaily.com.